“The conditions under which men live upon earth are the result of their state of consciousness. To seek to change the conditions without changing the consciousness is a vain chimera; for no human organization can change radically unless human consciousness itself changes.”
Sri Aurobindo
DEW Institute
‘The Auroville Institute of Design, Energy & Water’
DEW Institute concentrates the cumulative experience and expertise in the fields of Design, Energy and Water gathered during 40 years at Auroville in a variety of contexts. It offers this versatile yet focused package of knowledge via courses held over the year at its campus in Auroville.
- D = Design in Architecture, Planning and Products
- E = Energy systems that harness the interminable and sustainable sources of renewable power from the sun, wind and biomass, through varied technologies that include solar thermal, solar electricity, solar drying, air dehumidification systems, algal systems and alternative vehicles.
- W = Water concepts and systems that embrace waste water recycling, rain water conservation, water as a resource, dynamised water, flow forms, and vortex applications.
DEW institute functions through the following mediums that support initiative and interaction
- P - Projects executed by students, professionals and staff to test concepts on the field in any of the above areas. These can be likened to small scale research projects contributing in terms of valuable data and field observations.
- T - Training through courses offered to invited audiences of architects, designers and others on the subjects of sustainable habitats and the principles of sustainability as practiced in the three core elements of this institute- design, energy and water.
- I - Innovation is a key aspect of DEW's philosophy. Applied research in the afore-mentioned fields is channeled into field situations, leading in turn to solutions and product development, deploying both existing knowledge and/or generating new data and knowledge through experimentation.
Behind the spirit of the DEW programmes lies the quest for unending education as mentioned in the Auroville charter.
Sustainability is the singular feature of DEW's programmes offered through the PTI platform. The projects lean towards a hand-on approach mentored by field experts. Knowledge related resources are continuously generated and disseminated appropriately.
Eligibility:
Challenging projects with relevance to the socio-economic-environmental context of India are offered to graduates and doctoral students who wish to carry out in-depth research in the core areas that DEW offers. Innovation and inspiration will be the qualities most needed by aspirants apart from an ability to understand the technical basis of the programmes.
On going projects include:
Mission Tejas: A developmental initiative to replace kerosene lighting in 86 million homes of India with better alternatives by creating collaboration platform.
Solar refrigeration
Solar air-conditioning
Power generation through renewable sources
Alternative transportation
Biofuels
Harvesting of algal biomass and treatment of waste water.
DEW Institute is situated on the campus of the Centre for Scientific Research (CSR), in Auroville.
Project Collaborating Organisations
Development Consultants Limited (DCL), Kolkata , India
Centre of Ecological Restoration, Smithsonian Institute, Washington , US .
Vitens (Water board), Holland .
For enquiries:
DEW Institute
Auroville Centre for Scientific Research
Auroshilpam
Auroville 605101
Tamil Nadu
India
+91 (0)413 2622168 / 2622277 / 2622748 |
